By Rob Abrey
The November fireworks are over for another year but there is still some explosive action on view tonight at Romford. As ever the Essex venue host a fourteen race open card and with the Essex vase looming several greyhounds are making their six bend or Romford debuts. Along with other interesting entries yours truly has found out more about some of them.
Before the racing Post TV cameras start rolling at 7.12pm, trainer Raymond Pleasants is giving his charge All About Class his six bend debut in a maiden stayers in the opening race at 6.36pm. Over 575 metres the September ’14 whelp is also making his Romford debut at the same time. The son of Godsend and Tyrur Latoya has predominately been running in tough four bend races against top class greyhounds. He has had three races at Henlow over 550 metres last year, his longest races to date and on those occasions he was knocked over, came fourth and came second after being picked up. That was last year and Raymond Pleasants charge looks stronger with age. If taking to the track he could be a wild card pick for the Essex Vase.
Trainer Raymond Pleasants on All About Class said: “He has been running fairly regularly against top class dogs. He’s a good dog without winning at the moment.
“I don’t know if he will stay. We will find out on Friday. He ran in a couple of 550 metres races at Henlow last year and in one got picked up on the run in by an out and out stayer.
“Tonight depends on how he gets out the traps. He is a trap one dog ideally. He does normally take to a track first time though.
“He wants a big track with a long run to the bend and is not ideally suited to tight tracks. If he stays and takes to Romford we will enter him for the Essex Vase.”
Peterborough trainer David Pruhs likes a jaunt to Romford on a Friday night and tonight is giving Autumn Fernando his Romford race debut in a 400 metres standard affair at 7.12pm. In the opening race in front of Racing Post TV cameras the April ’15 whelp will be looking to make all first time up in Essex. The son of Moes Tavern and Marshals Lady has been running well recently and came second to Affane Party on two occasions who won an open race in front of the Sky cameras at Perry Barr on Tuesday. He has won open races at home track Peterborough, Harlow and Nottingham. Those tracks are considerably different which shows how versatile Autumn Fernando is and if taking to Romford tonight could be a player.
Trainer David Pruhs on Autumn Fernando said: “He has been round Peterborough and Harlow recently and is just a tad short of being in top company. He was beaten by Affane Party recently who won on Tuesday at Perry Barr.
“He has taken to trap one quite nicely and Romford will not hold any fears for him. He has pace and has to use it on Friday. He has to take advantage of being in trap one.
“We thought we would give him a spin at Romford to give him a run. We have a few A1 greyhounds at Peterborough and struggled to get runs this week so thought we would go to Romford.
“He does have nice pace and tonight we are more hopeful than confident.”
Although hopeful more than confident about Fernando the 5/1 being offerd by Corals feels a little bit too big for a well-travelled greyhound that is ideally drawn. The price on offer should be considered.
Trainer Billeigh Jack and greyhound Killie Lord are both making their Romford debuts tonight. Tonight is the first time Billeigh Jack is at Romford as a trainer in her own right after many years spent as a kennel hand to various trainers. Her charge Killie Lord is making his Romford debut at 8.03pm in the first heat of the 500 maidens over 400 metres. The July ’14 whelp started his career at Shawfield in handicap races over 480 metres so will be well equipped with weaving through any trouble.
The well-travelled son of David Bale and Winsome Brooke then went to Sunderland and won in A2 and A1 graded races over 450 metres. He is now in the capable hands of Billeigh Jack and has won under her tutelage in an A4 graded race at Harlow. In an open race at Central Park over 480 metres back in September he almost won his first open after narrowly being defeated by a short head to Barricane Batman.
Trainer Billeigh Jack on Killie Lord said: “I have entered him to see what he does. He has early and can finish quite well as well. He tends to run quite well first time up at a track. The heat on Friday is a trial and fingers crossed he qualifies.
“I would have preferred him in trap six rather than trap five as he runs better from six but it could have been worse.”
Woodcocks Susie is making her Romford debut in the second heat of the 500 maidens at 8.21pm over 400 metres. Trained by Yarmouth’s Nicky Skiggs the March ’15 whelp has had most of her 62 races at home track Yarmouth winning over 463 metres and 277 metres in graded races. The daughter of Droopys Cain and Bangor Alice looks a little bit between distances at Yarmouth and the 400 metres trip at Romford could be ideal for her. She came third in her first race back after falling over in a sprint race and came third after leading in an A1 top grade affair.
Trainer Nicky Skiggs on Woodcocks Susie said: “We thought we would give her a go at Romford. She has good sprint times at Yarmouth and went close in a recent sprint open at Henlow.
“Romford is the place to be if you can lead to the first bend. She is a nice little bitch and has chances to lead to the first bend.
“She has grown up a little bit, progressed nicely and has got stronger. She will raise a few eyebrows on Friday if she gets it right from the start. We are treating the heat as a little bit like a trial. Fingers crossed she runs well and qualifies.
“She definitely wants trap six. She will happily go around the outside. If she pinged out on Friday I would fancy her.”
If you follow Gerry Ballantine’s raider tonight and she lives up to her name you could be very much Quids In. The June ’15 whelp makes her Romford debut tonight but not her six bend one. The daughter of Wise Thought and Benghazl Babe has been stepped up in trip in her last two races and looks every bit a stayer. They were at Monmore over 630 metres in open races and the Perry Barr raider came first and third.
She clearly stays 575 metres so stamina will not be an issue. She has also won at Perry Barr over 480 metres in A2 and A1 graded company so appears to have a bit of early as well. If taking to Romford tonight those who back her could be very much quids in.
Trainer Gerry Ballantine on her said: “She ran well in both her six bend races at Monmore. She stays 575 metres. If she leads she wins but may need the look around. Without a trial at Romford you bank on them leading as you would not expect them to come from behind.
“She does have a bit of early but not enough to lead true 480 metres types.
“I’m happy with her from traps five or six (trap five tonight) but she does cut in at the bends.
“The Essex vase is on the agenda depending how she runs.”
Quids In has not trialled around Romford but does stay. If lying handy in any trouble strewn race she can pounce. Coral offer 10/1 for her and that should be considered. Alternatively backing her with Skybet who offer each way places to the first three may be the way forward.
Regular readers of this column would have had a field day last week with two obliging at SP returns of 2/1 and 8/1. Those wins came courtesy of Bubbly Big Eddie and Castlemary Ruby. It pays to follow this column.
